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A double chin is really something of a misnomer. Your chin is an area of bone at the bottom of the front of your skull, while a double chin, scientifically referred to as “submental fullness,” is not a bone at all, but an area of sagging skin and layers of fat just under your jawbone.
A double chin results from a number of different causes, including genetics, weight, and the position of your airway. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, as many as 68% of people have this condition.
Here at Med Physique Center for Aesthetics in Austin, Texas, our expert team of aestheticians understands how uncomfortable a double chin can make you feel, and we’re committed to helping you get rid of it for good. Here’s what you need to know.
Diet and exercise can help you lose submental fat in much the same way that you lose fat in other parts of your body. However, many people find that while their waistline shrinks, their chins do not, and they seek other alternatives.
There are a number of exercises you can do to specifically target the chin area, working the mouth, jaw, and surrounding tissues to decrease fat deposits. There are also face masks. Some tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of a double chin. Some, such as those made of glycerin, coffee, or green tea, support the work of chin exercises. And a daily mask made of egg whites, lemon juice, and honey reduces submental fat in some people.
Plastic surgeons — not surprisingly — rely on several different surgical procedures, including:
As with liposuction done elsewhere on the body, this procedure siphons off fat beneath the skin while sculpting the chin and neck contour. The fat is sucked out through a cannula inserted through an incision. Patients typically require only a local anesthetic to numb the area during treatment.
This procedure removes both fat and saggy skin around the chin and neck region while tightening the skin that remains, eliminating the double chin. It’s an invasive procedure requiring numerous incisions and sutures; it typically requires general anaesthesia; and it necessitates a lot of downtime afterward.
Often combined with a face-lift, one type of neck-lift procedure removes extra skin (cervicoplasty), while another tightens neck muscles (platysmaplasty). Both aim to improve the contours of the neck and chin regions.
The problem with these procedures is that they’re all invasive, and you can expect about 10-14 days of swelling and bruising afterward. In addition, general anesthesia can pose serious risks for some people with underlying health conditions, and smokers and people on blood thinners face an increased risk of bleeding during the procedure.
In April 2015, the FDA approved a synthetic version of deoxycholic acid, a substance the gallbladder naturally uses to dissolve dietary fat, for the treatment of submental fullness. Sold under the brand name Kybella, this injectable proved to be a game-changer.
Kybella isn’t intended to help you lose weight; you should be near your ideal weight and have skin that’s not terribly loose to benefit from it. What it does is destroy fat cells in the submental region, leading to a more defined jawline. Here at Med Physique Center for Aesthetics, it’s our go-to treatment for double chins.
Most people get good results after 2-4 treatments, each spaced a month apart; however, some people need as many as six sessions to achieve their aesthetic goals. The beauty of the treatment is that it’s permanent; once the fat cells are destroyed, they don’t grow back or plump up. You should still maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen, though, once you’ve had the treatments, since remaining fat cells can expand if you gain a lot of weight.
Are you ready to get rid of the double chin that’s making you unhappy with the way you look? Give Med Physique Center for Aesthetics a call at 512-453-7000, or book your consultation online today.
